“Deep in ourselves is the true Self, and that true Self is not separate from, or even different from, the Source of Being.” – Beatrice Bruteau

+++

Listen to the PODCAST version of Today’s Contemplation by clicking HERE.

Listen to my song “All Are One” on YouTube by clicking HERE

My albums and books Mercy Reigns & Listen to Your Heart are available for purchase HERE. Also available on Amazon.

Thank you!

+++

Matthew 25:40

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.”

+++

Today’s scripture comes from the famous parable that Jesus told about the end of time when a king will separate the sheep from the goats.

The sheep get safe passage to the eternal kingdom, while the goats get dispatched to eternal punishment.

And what is it that the sheep did to earn such a reward?

Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

The saved sheep don’t seem to know what he’s talking about.

That’s when Jesus says today’s scripture verse: “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.”

So, when there is someone in need, that is Jesus.

This parable is rather earth-shattering for the listener.

It was a type of teaching meant to make the listener unsettled and to wrestle with it.

But when you know that God is love (1 John 4:8) and not a tyrant, you know that the message is sent in love.

It’s not about fear of punishment but awakening to the Loving Presence.

This life is not about you.

It’s about us.

It’s about everyone and everything.

God is in all things.

As Jesus also said: “You will realize that I am in God and you are in me and I in you” (John 14:20).

To not care for someone in need is to not care for Jesus.

It is to not care for God.

It’s also to not care for yourself.

What Jesus wants us to know is that we are all in this together.

The master teacher knows that the listeners to this story will be asking themselves if they are sheep or goats.

And let’s face it, no one can perfectly be the sheep all the time.

We are both the sheep and the goats.

Jesus is trying to wake us up to our responsibility to care for all.

May we wake up to this reality and live it.

The results are both immediate and eternal.

+++

Listen to the song of the day “All Are One” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Purchase my albums/CDs and books by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!